Will Kate Middleton Have a Baby Shower?

Buckingham Palace is all atwitter awaiting the arrival of Prince William and Kate Middleton's baby, but there's one tradition that the royal couple will eschew.Duchess Catherine will not have a baby shower, according to ABC News, contrary to reports that ...

By TV Guide

Granite Falls Advocate Tribune

By TV Guide

Posted Mar. 31, 2013 at 12:07 PM

By TV Guide

Posted Mar. 31, 2013 at 12:07 PM

Buckingham Palace is all atwitter awaiting the arrival of Prince William and Kate Middleton's baby, but there's one tradition that the royal couple will eschew.

Duchess Catherine will not have a baby shower, according to ABC News, contrary to reports that her sister Pippa is planning to throw a party in honor of Kate's pregnancy.

Baby showers have only recently become popular in England, a royal expert tells ABC News, and "a lavish baby shower would be seen as highly inappropriate" on the part of the royal family. Any baby gifts given to the royal couple would likely be "respectfully returned," the source adds. In keeping with British tradition, the couple would accept gifts from family members and close friends after the baby is born.

Instead of a baby registry, William and Kate may ask for donations to some of their favorite charities - as they did when they got married, ABC News reports.

If Pippa does decide to throw a party for her sister, it would likely just be for friends. "The queen is not going show up at any party organized by Pippa," the royal expert tells ABC.